Former Executive Secretary/CEO of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Femi Thomas, on Monday, in Lagos, raised the alarm that his life was not safe anymore as his personal security aide was allegedly shot dead in cold blood in his very presence by agents of the state in a bid to arrest him, despite the fact that he did not resist arrest till date.
This was just as he dismissed reports that he was involved in including ghost enrolees in the NHIS, leading to a fraud of N327million.
Thomas raised this alarm at a press conference, but maintained that he remained undaunted, describing himself as a man of destiny who could not be compromised.
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The former NHIS boss was reacting to a recent report carried by some national dailies credited to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) where he was alleged to have been involved in the “systematic creation and manifestation of ghost enrolees in the scheme at a staggering cost of N327 million.” According to Thomas, the alleged enrolment of ghost enrolees happened well before he assumed office, saying the fresh allegation was a clear evidence of the desperation of his enemies to pull him down.
Thomas, who described the incessant negative media campaign against him as unhealthy, explained that this had led to trial via the media.
He decried a situation whereby a national anti-corruption agency first engaged in a massive media campaign preparatory to charging him to court, saying that in effect amounted to denting his image even before any charges had been made.
“This fresh allegation is a clear evidence of the desperation by my enemies to nail me and pull me down at all costs. I resumed as Executive Secretary in November 2013 long after the purported ghost enrolee scheme was conceived and or executed, if indeed it was. So how can I be held responsible for a crime committed when I was not yet in office?” Thomas queried.
Speaking further, the NHIS boss said, “On the contrary, I was the one who asked for the repatriation of overpayment to HMOs when I resumed.
“I also carried out an integrity check probe of HMOs which resulted in the sack of some HMOs in 2014. How can I scale through the hurdle if I had compromised by collaborating with HMOs on a fraudulent matter? Are you aware that some HMOs brought money to me and I chased them out? Let us check our facts.”
By: Bola Badmus-Lagos
Nigerian Tribune News
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